Hello
Gentle Reader
One
of the great giants of Mexican culture and literature, Sergio Pitol, has died
at the 85.. Sergio Pitol was a celebrated author of novels, essays, and
translations. Like his fellow countryman and writer Octavio Paz, was also a
diplomat. He served as a cultural attaché to: Rome (Italy) Belgrade (now Serbia,
then Yugoslavia), Warsaw (Poland), Paris (France), Beijing (China), Moscow (now
Russia then Soviet Union), Prague (now Czechia, then Czechoslovakia), Budapest
(Hungary), and Barcelona (Spain), before eventually becoming the ambassador to the
then Czechoslovakia. Beyond his diplomatic career, Sergio Pitol was an
accomplished writer of prose, noted for his many novels and short story
collections, but is well renowned for his memoires and essays. His literary
work is known for blending and blurring the lines between traditional fiction
and essay, and utilized both mediums to his creative advantages. It should come
to no surprise Sergio Pitol is considered one of the most important Mexican
authors of the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century. He was
awarded the Cervantes Prize in two-thousand and five for his contribution to
Spanish literature and language. He was also an avid translator, which he
described as essential to his craft as a writer. He is known for translating
many English language writers (such as Henry James, Jane Austen, and Joseph
Conrad) into Spanish, as well as Polish authors, Witold Gombrowicz and Kazimierz
Brandys. It has been noted his international diplomatic missions, helped form
the unique style and use of language, found in Sergio Pitol’s work. Due to his
international and metropolitan influences, Sergio Pitol refined his use of the
Spanish language, to the idiosyncrasies of all the languages he had come into
contact with through his diplomatic career. Many readers of Sergio Pitol have
described that reading his work, as an exercise in seeing and understanding the
layered use of language. Sadly, in his later years, Sergio Pitol was diagnosed
with Aphasia, which robbed him of his language and speaking capabilities.
Sergio
Pitol will be immortalized and remembered as one of the most influential and
wise writers of the Spanish language, and of Mexican culture and literature. His
influence is vast and has helped inspire and encourage many Mexican and
Hispano-American writers, of a new generation.
Currently
speaking his novel “The Magician of Vienna,” part of his “Trilogy of Memory,”
is longlisted for this year’s Best Translated Book Award. The novel has been called a masterful work of
literary composition, and has even been suggested as his masterpiece.
Rest
in Peace Sergio Pitol.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
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